Effect of sulodexide on blood viscosity in patients with peripheral vascular disease

Abstract

Thirty patients with Stage II peripheral vascular disease were treated with sulodexide, a new, medium molecular weight glycosaminoglycan, and placebo using a double-blind, crossover study design. After a 1-month wash-out period, patients were treated for 1 month with one or other trial medication and then crossed over to the alternative preparation for a further month. Measurements were made at baseline and at the end of each treatment period of serum, plasma and whole blood viscosities (at various shear rates), fibrinogen levels and red cell filterability. Tolerance parameters were also assessed at the same times. The results showed that there were statistically significant reductions in plasma and whole blood viscosity and in fibrinogen levels after sulodexide, but not after placebo. Neither treatment had any marked effect on red blood cell filterability. Local and systemic tolerance of the treatment was excellent, and some patients reported an improvement in symptoms whilst they were taking sulodexide; this, however, could not be quantified in this study. It is suggested that the viscosity and fibrinogen reducing effect of sulodexide make it a useful form of treatment in patients with atheromatous vascular diseases of the lower limbs.

Pharmacological Actions of Sulodexide

“…32 Oral ingestion of 100 mg of Sulodexide daily for 30 days led to marked reductions in the concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), fibrinogen, and the viscosity of the plasma of patients with thrombophlebitis or recurrent deep vein thrombosis. [63][64][65][66][67] The intramuscular injection of 50 mg Sulodexide daily for 10 days led to a significant decrease in the concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and fibrinopeptide A. 68 Another consequence of the ability of Sulodexide to bind endothelial and subendothelial cells may be related to the stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells, with an associated suppression of proliferation of smooth muscle cells.…”

Fenofibrate decreases plasma fibrinogen, improves lipid profile, and reduces uricemia

“…12 Though no drug active by the oral route specifically decreases plasma fibrinogen, two medications used for cardiovascular therapy (bezafibrate and ticlopidine) have consistently been proved to reduce its concentration. 9 Fenofibrate 13,14 and sulodexide [15][16][17] also seem to decrease fibrinogen levels in short-term studies, but more trials are needed to confirm this effect and to determine whether the reduction persists in the long run.…”

Fenofibrate decreases plasma fibrinogen, improves lipid profile, and reduces uricemia

“…Though no drug active by the oral route specifically decreases plasma fibrinogen, two medications used for cardiovascular therapy (bezafibrate and ticlopidine) have consistently been proved to reduce its concentration 9 . Fenofibrate 13 , 14 and sulodexide 15 , 16 , 17 also seem to decrease fibrinogen levels in short‐term studies, but more trials are needed to confirm this effect and to determine whether the reduction persists in the long run.…”